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President Trump’s budget for Fiscal Year 2018 successfully unites a broad range of critics. This budget undermines our national security, jeopardizes the future of American families trying to make ends meet, hollows out the investments necessary for a strong economy, grants tax cuts to the wealthiest at the expense of the poor, and endangers Americans with drastic cuts to critical medical, scientific, and environmental programs that keep Americans safe. Advocates and policy-makers from across the political spectrum offer their reactions to the President’s proposal.

Reckless Spending Cuts Put National and Economic Security at Risk

“…the budget, as it's proposed now, would make it simply impossible for the UN to continue all of its essential work advancing peace, development, human rights, and humanitarian assistance around the world.”

Michael Mullen, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Michèle Flournoy, former Undersecretary of Defense for Policy (May 26, 2017) –

“Make no mistake, these deep cuts are not about making programs more effective or rooting out inefficiencies. These actions are not actions of reform. They are a wrecking ball. Congress must soundly reject this proposal.”

Dr. Tom Frieden, former Director of the CDC (May 26, 2017) –

“The administration’s budget proposal for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is unsafe, unwise and fiscally irresponsible.”

The American Association of Crop Insurers, and associated groups (May 24, 2017) –

“Weakening crop insurance and making it more difficult for farmers to bounce back during tough times will jeopardize rural jobs and will find little support in rural America or on Capitol Hill. … Yet, the Administration’s budget proposal targets the primary tool farmers use to handle these risks.”

John B. King, Jr., former Secretary of Education (May 22, 2017) –

“This budget is really an assault on the American Dream. ... No one in good conscience could stand up and say this budget makes sense for the interests of students and the long-term interest of the country.”

Lily Eskelsen García, President of the National Education Association (May 23, 2017) –

“The Trump-DeVos budget is a wrecking ball aimed at our nation’s public schools.”

“It’s pretty much not a surgical strike, it’s more like a machete chop to most of the major body parts at EPA and most of the other agencies that are supposed to be protecting public health. So we’re very concerned.”

“The proposed budget attacks communities of all types – urban and rural, red and blue, big and small – that use HUD funds to help residents improve their lives.”

Shifts More Money to Millionaires, Billionaires, and Corporations

Olivia Golden, Executive Director of the Center for Law and Social Policy (May 22, 2017) –

“This is overall an assault on a wide range of ordinary Americans for the purpose of providing tax cuts to the wealthiest. It’s both devastating and it’s, to me, completely in opposition to our national interests – investing in children and families and workers.”